Bowling ball projector



Julyl, 1942-` E. GRlEsHABxr-:R ETAL 2,289,421

BOWLING BALL PROJECTOR Filed Sept. 4 1940 `2 Sheets-Sheegl INVENTORS Evan/E GR/ESHABEE fla/Pow N. PRE/v KY July 14, 1942. E. GRlEsHABER ETAL 2,289,421l

BOWLING BALL PROQTEGTOR Filed Sept. 4, 1940 2 Shee'ts-Shet 2 I lNvl-:NToRs EUGENE ames/Mase HAR$LD Al. PPE/V KY I MTTORNEY Patented `uly 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOWLING BALL PROJECTOR Eugene Grieshaber, Springfield Gardens, and Harold N. Prensky, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application September 4, 1940, Serial No. 355,282

2 Claims.

The invention deals more particularly With ball propelling means for bowling games and has for its primary object the provision of simple mechanism having life-like appearance and action for directing a ball towards a target or a set of pins.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for mounting the figure which propels the ball so that it may be angularly adjusted with respect to the ball to give desired direction to said ball as it is propelled by said figure towards the target or pins.

More specifically the invention seeks to provide mechanism whereby the ball propelling means may be aimed to direct the ball along a desired path towards the target, the mechanism including simple latching means for the ball propelling parts and simple tripping means therefor operable in any adjusted position of the propelling means.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed specification of preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of ball propelling mechanism as contemplated in the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side View thereof, the base being shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View as taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top` plan View of an alternate form of ball propelling mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

gure, a second pin I9, carried by the plate II, passes through a slot in the base, and is en gaged with a lateral extension 2| formed on the ligure.

It is evident, then, that the figure may be adjustably positioned with respect to the ball 22 by moving the plate I'I about the pivot pin I6. Hence, the arm I3 may strike the ball to propel q it towards a target in a direction according to the manner in which the figure is aimed With respect to the ball. The means for moving the plate II and thus aiming the gure, preferably Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View, to an enlarged scale, on the plane of the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

In that embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ball propelling mechanism is mounted as upon a base IU formed with supporting flanges II. Upon the base is supported a ligure I2 simulating (in this instance) a bowler having an arm I3 pivoted to the figure at I4, and provided with spring means I5 for causing said arm to swing in the direction of the arrow.

The figure I2 is mounted upon a pivot pin I6 which is fixed to a plate I'I arranged beneath the base I0, said pin passing through a` hole I8 comprises the rotational knob 23 positioned above and carried by the base I Il, the gear pinion 24 5i fixed with said knob, and the sector teeth 25 its arm I3 may strike the ball 22 at various angles.

The mechanism is provided with means for latching the arm I3 in a rearward position to store energy in the spring means I5 and with means for tripping the latch means to release the arm for propelling engagement with the ball 22. In the form shown, this means comprises a leaf spring 26 secured t0 the plate I'l, a stud 21 fixed to the spring and protruding upwardly through an arcuate slot 28 in the base for latching engagement with the arm I3, and a trip button 29 also fixed to the spring and passing through another arcuate slot 30 in said base.

- By providing the slots 28 and 3l), and carrying the stud 21 and the trip button 29 on a member fixed with the plate I1, all of the operating parts may be moved about the pivot pin I6 and thus maintain their relative positions with any angular position of the gure I2.

The foregoing is descriptive of a mechanism wherein the figure may only move angularly being otherwise fixed except for its ball engaging arm I 3. The principles of the invention may also be incorporated in mechanism in which the figure may be angularly adjusted and also has a linear or straight line movement for engaging the ball for propulsion thereof. This form of the invention `is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

In this latter form, the base 43 is formed substantially similar to the base Ill, having the side flanges 4I and a rear flange 42. Pivoted to the base I0 as at 43 and disposed therebeneath, there is provided a frame 44 formed with end flanges 45. The base 40 and the frame 44 are each formed in said base. In order to steady the formed with registering slots, the slot 46 in the base being flared outwardly from the pivot 43 and the slot 41 in the frame being substantially coextensive longitudinally therewith but uniform in width.

The flanges 45 of the frame 44 are slotted as at 4B to engage a slide 49 which is carried by said frame, the flange 42 of the base being also slotted at 50 for passage therethrough of an extension of said slide. The slot 50 is of considerable width for reasons later apparent and the slide extension is preferably formed with a handle portion 5l.

The slide 49 supports a gure 52 as by means of the pin 53 which projects upwardly through the slots 46 and 41. In this instance the figure need not have a pivoted portion such` as the arm I3 of the figure l2.

The slide 49 is normally held by a spring 54 in a position towards the left, said spring having one end engaged with the left hand flange 45 of the frame 44 and the other with a lug 55 formed on the slide. Thus the spring 54 always seeks to project the slide towards the left.

The slide may be latched in its right hand position as shown, the latching means comprising a lug 56 on the slide engaged with a detent 51 carried by a leaf spring 58 secured to the base 40 on its undersurface. The detent preferably passes through an arcuate slot 59 in the base and is provided withia trip button 60.

The mechanism thus provided, may be set to aim the figure 52 with respect to the ball 6I. When the device is ready for use, the slide 49, by means of the handle 5l, is pulled outwardly from the base against the force of the spring 54 until the lug 56 is caught by the detent 51. The pin 53, mounting the figure 52, moves along the slots 46 and 41 towards the right to assume the position shown. The figure may now be aimed with respect to the ball 6I by swinging the slide handle, and thus the frame 44, about the pivot 43, the slot 46 being shaped to permit this and the slots 50 and 59 being suitably wide for a great variety of angular positions of the frame 44.

pressed to remove the detent 51 from engagement with the lug 56. The spring 54 will then rapidly pull the slide 49 and thus the figure 52 so the latter may strike the ball 6| to propel the same.

Although the invention has been disclosed with respect to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that the principles of the invention may be incorporated in various modifications thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A game of the character described comprising a base, means pivoted on said base and comprising a gure arranged above the base and a plate member disposed beneath said base, means carried by the base and having engagement with said plate for moving said gure angularly about said pivot and relative to a missile supported on said base, said means comprising gear teeth formed on said plate member, a pinion gear in mesh therewith, and a manipulating knob for rotating said pinion gear, a missile striking portion carried by said ligure, means for normally urging said striking portion toward said missile, means for latching said striking portion out of striking position and means for releasing said latching means.

2. A game of the character described comprising a base, means pivoted on said base and comprising a figure arranged above the base and a plate member disposed beneath said base, means carried by the base and having engagement with said plate for moving said figure angularly about said pivot and relative to a missile supported on said base, said means comprising gear teeth formed on said plate member, a pinion gear in mesh therewith, and a manipulating member for rotating said pinion gear, a missile striking portion carried by said iigure, means for normally urging said striking portion towards said missile, means for latching said striking portion out of striking position and means for releasing said latching means.

EUGENE GRIESHABER. HAROLD N. PRENSKY. 

